Semiotics

 Semiotics and Decoding Meaning

Semiotics is the study of signs. It is vitally applied in media texts and contexts. It derives meanings out of media context. Ferdinand De Saussure suggested this theory and further divided sign into 2; Signifier and Signified

Signifier is the physical form itself of the sign (item/object), whereas signified is what the signifier refers to, i.e. the mental concept. In media studies, these two combine to give the audience a greater idea regarding the context.

Sir Roland Barthes worked further on the concept of semiotics. He suggested there are different stages of decoding and interpreting signs, Denotation and Connotation are 2 ways.

Denotation refers to the primary meaning, a literal definition of something. Connotation means the deeper meaning; more than what meets the eye, 

These can be used in films and TV shows, as well as used in our film opening project.